Indians At Tokyo Olympics: Neeraj Chopra Wins Historic Athletics Gold After Bajrang Punia's Wrestling Bronze

Neeraj Chopra became the toast of the nation after claiming India's first-ever athletics medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The day started with India chasing three medals in a bid to beat their best tally of six at London 2012. But after golfer Aditi Ashok finished fourth in a showdown, wrestler Bajrang Punia (65kg) brought the much needed cheer in Indian camp winning a bronze medal beating Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0. Neeraj Chopra then created history in javelin throw final. Chopra with a throw of 87.58 clinched India's seventh medal and became country's second individual gold medallist after Abhinav Bindra. With Bajrang's medal, Indian wrestlers have matched their best performance at the Olympic Games. At the 2012 London Games, Sushil Kumar won a silver and Yogeshwar Dutt returned with a bronze. Catch the highlights here (MEDAL TALLY | AUGUST 7 SCHEDULE | NEWS)

5:47 PM IST: Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw, Final

Neeraj Chopra clinched India's historic gold medal at Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.58m.

5:30 PM IST: Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw, Final - Fifth Attempts

Another poor attempt from Neeraj Chopra and he makes it a foul throw. But he still leads the gold medal race.

5:26 PM IST: Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw, Final - Fourth Attempts

Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic inches closer to Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 86.67m in his fifth attempt. Another Czech thrower, Vitezslav Vesley remains a strong medal contender too.

5:00 PM IST: Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw, Final - Third Attempts

Poor one from Neeraj Chopra in the third attempt. Only 76.79m. But he still leads the pack with is best throw of 87.58m.

4:55 PM IST: Athletics- Men's Javelin Throw Final- 2nd Attempt

India's Neeraj Chopra leads after second round with a throw of 87.58. He has improved his throw. Germany's Julian Weber remains second with a best throw of 85.30. Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic is third with a throw of 83.98

4:40 PM IST: Athletics- Men's Javelin Throw Final

India's Neeraj Chopra leads after first round with a throw of 87.03. Germany's Julian Weber is second with a throw of 85.30. Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic is third with a throw of 83.98

4:23 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

Bajrang Punia vs Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan

Second period - Punia goes for a single leg move but Niyazbekov escapes. Unlike yesterday, Punia is making the moves. Punia takes down and a double for 4-0. Another leg attack, and another take down for 6-0 lead. 50 seconds left in the bout. Another leg attack for a double leads 8-0. Punia fends off the attack and wins sixth medal for India.

4:18 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

Bajrang Punia vs Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan

First period - Bajrang Punia, in blue, gets a favourable call with the referee warning his opponent four a foul move. And a passivity for Niyazbekov, 1-0 lead for Punia. Mighty grip from Niyazbekov, but Punia escapes with a brilliant move. Indian wrestler escapes again. And one more for Punia. He leads 2-0.

4:13 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

In the first bronze medal play-off, Gadzhimurad Rashidov of ROC beat Iszmail Muszukajev of Hungary by points (5-0).

3:53 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

If Bajrang Punia manages to win bronze, India will match its best result at the Olympics. And he will become the sixth Indian male wrestler to win an Olympic medal after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Ravi Kumar Dahiya.

3:41 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

Bajrang Punia will take on Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan.

3:24 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

Bajrang Punia, who's still carrying a knee niggle, lost to three-time world champion and Rio Olympics bronze-winner Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan in the semis. And he will take the mat today.

"Due to knee injury he was not able to perform attacking wrestling, which he is known for. We talked over phone early morning & I told him to give his best today (match for Bronze medal)," said Bajrang father, Balwan Singh.

3:08 PM IST: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, Bronze Medal Play-off

Bajrang Punia will take on the winner of the repechage bout between Adama Diatta of Senegal and Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan.

Medal rounds start 4:00 PM IST.

2:14 PM IST: Remaining Indians in actions today - Bajrang Punia in Men’s freestyle 65kg bronze medal bout and Neeraj Chopra in Men's Javelin throw final.

1:02 PM IST: Water Polo - Women's Final

USA beat Spain 14-5 to win third gold medal in a row. Earlier, Hungary beat ROC to take bronze.

12:54 PM IST: Diving - Men's 10m Platform Final

Cao Yuan leads Chinese 1-2 with Yang Jian taking silver. Tom Daley claims silver.

11:41 AM IST: Boxing

Three of the four finals scheduled for today are completed. Galal Yafai of Great Britain beat Carlo Paalam of the Philippines 4-1 to take Men's Fly (48-52kg) gold.

Bulgaria's Stoyka Krasteva beat Turkey's Buse Naz Cakiroglu 5-0 in the Women's Fly (48-51kg) final.

Hebert Sousa of Brazil knocks out Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine to take Men's Middle (69-75kg) gold.

10:18 AM IST: Golf - Women's Individual Stroke Play

Heartbreak for Aditi Ashok. She finishes fourth after carding 3-under 68 in final round in a tight finish as USA's Nelly Korda wins gold. Mone Inami of Japan and Lydia of Ko to play the play-off for silver. Both T2.

9:55 AM IST: Basketball - Men's Final

USA beat France 87-82 in thriller to win gold. Kevin Durant scored 29 and had six rebounds.

9:54 AM IST: Golf - Women's Individual Stroke Play

Action resumes at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Aditi Ashok was in the tied 3rd when play got interrupted.

9:02 AM IST: Early in the morning, it was a 1-2 Kenyan finish in the women’s marathon with Peres Jepchirchir taking gold ahead of Brigid Kosgei. USA's Molly Seidel settled for bronze.

8:46 AM IST: Golf - Women's Individual Stroke Play

Aditi Ashok returns to top three. But play temporarily suspended due to rain.

8:46 AM IST: Golf - Women's Individual Stroke Play

The fight is getting intense. Aditi Ashok drops to fourth. USA's Nelly Korda still leads.

8:32 AM IST: Indians will compete only in three events today, but the penultimate day at the Games has 34 gold medals at stake.

8:00 AM IST: Golf - Women's Individual Stroke Play

Fourth and final started. But there's also rain threat. As things stand, India's Aditi Ashok is T2, while compatriot Diksha Dagar is T53.

Aditi Ashok, in her second straight Olympics after Rio 2016, is a round away from creating history. The 23-year-old Bangalore girl, a regular on the Ladies European and LPGA Tour, is three strokes adrift of USA's Nelly Korda, who is atop the leaderboard. Nelly, the daughter of Czech tennis star Petr Korda, is a six-time LPGA winner. If rain prevents play on Saturday due to a predicted tropical storm, then the women's golf competition will become a 54-hole competition and the medals will be handed out accordingly. If that happens, Aditi Ashok will get the silver as she a clear second in the standings after Friday.

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra needs a monster throw to finish on the podium at Tokyo 2020. He qualified for the finals as No. 1 but the best throwers in the world keep their best for the final round. Chopra is up against men who can throw 90 metres and beyond. Johannes Vetter is one of them and the German is a hot favourite for the Tokyo Olympics javelin gold. Vetter, the world No. 1 and world champion has the year’s best throw of 96.29m.

In his debut Olympics at Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia can grab India's second wrestling medal. In his bronze medak match, Bajrang faces the winner of the repechage round between Senegal’s Adama Diatta and Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov.

Whoever Bajrang faces is going to be tough customer. Niyazbekov is a three-time Asian champion and has two world championship medals. He has beaten Bajrang before in the 2019 world championships. Diatta is an eight-time African champion.

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